Using Fecal Egg Counts on Your Farm
Virginia Cooperative Extension has published a new fact sheet on using fecal egg counts. The author is Dr. Dahlia O'Brien. Quantitative egg counts are important in any parasite control program and can aid producers in monitoring the rate of pasture contamination. In addition, fecal egg counts (FEC) can be used to determine drug resistance and in selecting or culling particular animals.
It is important to note that most of the time, FEC should not be used as the only indicator of when to deworm individual animals. It should be used in conjunction with FAMACHA© (anemia) eye scores and other components of the Five Point Check©, possibly along with weight gain or loss, to determine treatment.